Paper clamping device



March 3, 1964 T. KAUFMAN 3.122,802

PAPER CLAMPING DEVICE Filed May 3l, 1962 INVENTOR 7290 Ma-MAM www@ United States Patent O 3,122,802 PAPER CLAMPING DEVICE Tibor Kaufman, Hotel Park Crescent, 87th St. and

Riverside Drive, New York, NX. Filed May 31, 1962, Ser. No. 199,157 1 Claim. (Cl. 24a-6s) This invention relates to clamps or clips such as are used to secure a sheaf of papers together and more particularly to a clamp or clip which is suitable for use with a supporting board structure.

Where paper clamps have been previously constructed they have been made with springs to urge the jaws of the clamps together at all times. Persons wishing to use such clamps have found diiiiculty in holding the jaws apart while inserting paper therein. The spring action of the jaws is particularly annoying when a large number of sheets have to be aligned within the jaws.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp for holding a sheaf of papers which will remain in an open locked position until it is desired to bring the jaws together.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplified paper clamp device capable of holding a large number of papers.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a highly simplified paper clamp structure which can be held in an open position for paper adjusting purposes.

A feature of the present invention is its use of a locking device carried by the upper jaw and base of the clamp for holding the clamp in an open position.

Another feature of the present invention is its simplitied upper jaw construction to provide a locking detent of suicient strength to hold the jaw open against the spring loaded structure of the clamp.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat exploded view of a complete embodiment showing the manner in which the clamp is secured to a supporting board.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of a clamp made in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a view in rear elevation of the clamp shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view in side elevation taken on line 4--4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line S-S in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 showing the paper clamp in an open position.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URES 1, 2, 10 indicates a paper clamp base having openings 11 therein for securing the clamp to a supporting board 12. Screws 13 may be used for securing purposes as indicated in FIGURE 1.

A top jaw member 14 is pivotally secured to the base 10 by means of a shaft 15, best shown in FIGURES 3-7. The shaft 15 is journaled within openings 16, 17, provied in two depending tabs 18 on the top jaw member 14 and spaced upwardly extending tabs 19 on the base 10.

3,122,802 Patented Mai'. 3, 1954 Springs 20 are carried by the shaft 15 and are provided with outwardly extending arms 21, 22, which bear against the top jaw 14 and base 10 respectively. The outwardly extending arms 21, 22, serve to urge the teeth 23 located at the front of the top jaw member 14 into contact with the base 10.

A locking arm 24, best shown in FIGURES 3-7, is swingably carried by an upstanding ange portion 25, on the base 10. The locking arm 24, extends upwardly in the direction of the top jaw 14, and through an opening 26, in the iinger portion 27 thereof. The opening 26 is of a size which will permit the locking arm 24 to slip therethrough as the finger portion 27 is pushed downwardly in the direction of the base 10 and against the tension of the springs Z0.

A locking detent 28 is formed within the opening 26 and extends in the direction of the locking arm 24. The locking detent 2S may be provided with an embossed area 29 for strengthening purposes.

The locking arm 24 is cut away as indicated at 30, in FIGURES 3, 5, 6 and 7, to provide an opening which will receive the locking detent 26.

A small coil spring 31, best shown in FIGURES 3-7, is connected at one end to the shaft 15 and at its opposite end to the locking arm 24. The locking arm 24 is thus urged in the direction of the locking detent 26 at all times.

When the top jaw 14 is opened as indicated in FIGURE 7, the locking detent 26 will slip into the opening 30, in the locking arm 24. Thereafter, the top jaw 14 will remain in the open position shown in FIGURE 7. After the papers (not shown) have been inserted between the jaw 14 and the base 10, the locking arm 24 may be pulled rearwardly and out of Contact with the detent 28 to release the jaw 14 and permit the teeth 23 to grasp the paper.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a paper clamping device which can be locked iu an open position while papers are being adjusted therein, and released to iirmly ygrasp the papers therebetween. The device contains a minimum number of parts and lends itself to easy assembly and long trouble free use.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A paper clamping device comprising a base, a shaft carried by the base, a top jaw member, pivotally secured to the base shaft, spring means to urge to the top jaw into clamping contact with the base, an upwardly turned margin at the rear of the base, a locking arm swingably carried at its lower end by the base margin, means carried by the top jaw member toward the rear thereof to engage the locking arm to hold the top jaw member in an open position, and yieldable spring means interconnecting the shaft and the locking arm whereby the top jaw member may be released to close the clamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,019,348 Northam Mar. 5, 1912 1,190,265 Cooke July 11, 1916 1,477,605 Steigerwald et al Dec. 18, 1923 2,081,797 Di Figlia May 25, 1937 2,926,405 Moesch Mar. 1, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 683,690 Germany Nov. 13, 1939 16,818 Great Britain of 1912 

